THE GRANITE CITY SPARKLES AS BUSINESS TOURISM DESTINATION

Oct 16, 2013

Aberdeen has long been known for its golf courses, maritime heritage, and of course, the booming oil and gas industry, yet there is another reason to choose Aberdeen for corporate meetings, conferences and events. With a variety of venues and unusual locations to choose from, Aberdeen is becoming the destination for corporate meetings and events. The City of Aberdeen remains one of the UK’s top destinations for hosting conferences, events, board meetings and incentive trips, and with new flight routes landing on a regular basis including Frankfurt and Kristiansund, there is no better time to choose Aberdeen as the destination for your corporate event.

Visit Aberdeen

Conference facilities are not in short supply in Aberdeen thanks to high demand for such facilities from the buoyant oil and gas industry, coupled with two Universities, both of which boast extensive conference and events facilities. Attracting international events such as Offshore Europe, the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) is well suited to host large conferences with a capacity for up to 250 conference delegates and smaller meetings can be held within the 20 smaller meeting rooms available on site.

For something out of the ordinary to inspire delegates, choose one of the exclusive use castles surrounding Aberdeen. Haddo House on the outskirts of Aberdeen, where Georgian architecture meets Victorian interiors, is situated within easy reach of Aberdeen city centre and provides flexible packages to meet the needs of all organisations. The grand Canadian Hall can be utilised for a number of events including Champagne receptions, gala dinners and conferences.

Crathes Castle is an enchanting 16th Century castle located within easy reach of Aberdeen city centre and Aberdeen International Airport. Hosting an array of facilities for corporate events, Crathes castle makes the perfect alternative to a stuffy board room. Both day and evening events are catered for at Crathes castle, from champagne receptions, sumptuous banquets and barbeques, to recitals, concerts and cultural events. Delegates can take time out to enjoy their surroundings by playing croquet on the lawn, or enjoy a local tipple and take part in whisky tasting in the Great Hall.

Haddo House

As well as conference and event facilities, Crathes Castle also offers something to get the delegates’ blood pumping with a high octane Go Ape tree tops adventure. Not for those of a fragile disposition, Go Ape encourages business to take their ‘tribes’ out of the board room to conquer this floating assault course. Other packages are available which include forest Segway treks with a forest BBQ, African drumming, and mountain biking.

Back in the city centre, Transition Extreme offers corporate packages which make fantastic team building days for the adrenaline junkies in the team. Situated next by Aberdeen’s beach, colleagues, clients and friends are encouraged to work through physical challenges together. Transition Extreme is equipped with TX Trekking aerial assault course, extreme drop and zip wire so this teambuilding day is not for the faint hearted. The venue is also a youth charity, dedicated to educating young people in extreme sports, art and music activities.

Go Ape tree tops adventure

Aberdeen is not short on golf courses, so why not book a corporate incentive trip to Aberdeen and visit some of the best golf courses in the world? Ranging from the historic Royal Aberdeen where the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will take place in July 2014, to the impressive Trump International Golf Links located just north of the city. Whether looking for an intimate venue for an important meeting, or a team building day, tailor-made packages can be put together at your request.

New hotel developments within Aberdeen city will add to the already well-established business tourism offering. The new 194 bedroom Courtyard by Marriott at Aberdeen Airport which opened in August, along with the Premier Inn and the forthcoming opening of the Ibis and Novotel will bring an additional 500 rooms to the area.

A £25 million luxury De Vere Village Urban Retreat Resort with 148 bedrooms is set to improve the offering to both leisure and business visitors to Aberdeen within the new Prime Four Business Park at Kingswells.

Aberdeen is the ideal cosmopolitan location for corporate meetings and events with a host of venues and activities to inspire delegates. The City is also very accessible – located just seven miles from the city centre, Aberdeen International Airport enables visitors to fly from over 50 world-wide destinations, ensuring the city has never been more connected. To find out more about the business tourism offering in Aberdeen, contact VisitAberdeen on 01224 900490 or for further information on any of these venues, visit www.visitaberdeen.com